| i.MX27 module gets carrier board |
Nov. 18, 2008
 Strategic Test announced a hardware reference platform for Freescale's i.MX27 SoC (system-on-chip). Available with ports of Windows CE 5.0 or 6.0, and targeting harddrive-equipped portable and stationary devices, including military gear, the "Development Kit-5" includes an SODIMM-format processor module and small-format carrier board.
(Click here for a larger view of Strategic Test's Development Kit-5)
Like other products of its type, the Development Kit-5 is touted as enabling fast time to market. A company's software development team can use the kit to develop software for the TX27 module, while its hardware engineers simultaneously create a custom carrier board that will form the basis of a new product, says Strategic Test.
Strategic Test's new Development Kit-5 comes with the company's previously released TX27 processor module, pictured below. However, photos suggest it uses a subsequent revision of the board with smaller flash and RAM chips.
The SODIMM-sized TX27 houses Freescale's i.MX27, clocked at 400MHz. The module also integrates 64MB or optionally 128MB of "mobile" DDR-SDRAM, 128MB of flash memory, a 10/100 Ethernet MAC, USB 2.0, an LCD controller, an MPEG4 H.263/H.264 hardware video codec, and a camera interface, according to Strategic Test.
Strategic Test's TX27
(Click to enlarge)
The Development Kit-5 is a 6.3 x 3.9 inch carrier board for the TX27 that connects the module's interfaces to a mix of real-world connectors and headers. The board naturally has an SODIMM socket for the TX27 itself, plus two additional slots for SD cards.
The Development Kit-5 provides real-world connectors and headers
(Click to enlarge)
As shown in the detailed photo above, the Development Kit-5 provides standard connectors for 10/100 Ethernet connector, VGA, USB 2.0 host and device, an RS232 serial port, and a 3.5mm headphone jack. Additionally, there's a 10-pin header for a second serial port, a camera interface, and a JTAG interface, the company says.
The Development Kit-5 also sports a 40-pin connector that can be used to connect an optional 7-inch touchscreen display, according to Strategic Test. Designed to accept 5VDC input power via either a USB port or a screw header, the carrier board is supplied with an external AC power supply.
Features listed by Strategic Test for the TX27 module itself include:- Processor -- 400 MHz Freescale i.MX27
- Memory -- 64MB mobile DDR SDRAM, expandable to 128MB
- Storage -- 128MB of flash storage
- USB 2.0 host and device ports
- LCD controller supporting up to 1024 x 1024 resolution
- Camera interface
- Keypad 5x5 support
- 200-pin SODIMM connector
- Other -- Three 4-wire UARTs; I2C; two SSI/AC97/I2S; two 4-wire SDIO; CSPI
- Power Supply -- 1.8V or 3.3V power supply
- Dimensions -- 2.6 x 1 x 0.16 inches (67.6 x 26 x 4.2 mm)
- Temperature range -- –20 degree C to +85 degree C
Features added by the carrier board in the Development Kit-5 are said to include:- 2 x SD card slots
- USB 2.0 hot and device connectors
- VGA port with D-SUB connector
- 10/100 Ethernet port
- 3.5mm headphone jack
- 2 x RS232 ports (one with D-SUB connector, one with 10-pin header)
- Camera interface
- JTAG interface
- Dimensions -- 6.3 x 3.9 inches (160 x 100mm)
Background
Aimed at mobile devices such as hard drive-equipped portable media players, as well as low-power, stationary devices, Freescale's i.MX27 is essentially a 90nm die-shrink of the popular ARM926EJ-S based i.MX21. Released last year, the i.MX27 carried over i.MX21 features, but also added an H.264 video codec, Ethernet, a hard drive interface, plus security and power management features. For more information, see our previous coverage, here.
Strategic Test has previously shipped a Triton family of SODIMM-sizd CPU modules based on XScale processors from Intel and Marvell. While these products continue to be available, it is necessary to sign an NDA to obtain Marvell's design documentation, and "DoD organizations may likely have their application rejected," Strategic Test says. This makes the Freescale module the product of choice for defense applications, the company notes.
Availability
The Development Kit-5 comes with ports of Windows CE 5.0, Windows CE 6.0, and Linux 2.26. Linux sources are supplied, while Windows CE sources are available at extra cost, the company says. More information may be available from the company's website, here.
Strategic Test says the TX27 and Development Kit-5 are the first in a series of Freescale products that will be released in 2008 and 2009. The Development Kit-5 is available now for $1990, according to the company. The TX27 continues to be available separately, for $139 in single quantities.
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